LIFE IS A DREAM
Two sessions with Juan Ayala
What is the experience of a physically distanced witness and how does this affect the meaning of what is being presented to us? If everything is a projection of the mind and the world is made of its representation, are lived experiences private and therefore unaccountable?
Celebrating the ephemeral nature of performance, Juan’s masterclass will play with format and the tension between distance and experience, using these constraints to play with generosity, imitation and accident. The workshop will use an extract from Calderon’s play Life Is A Dream as a case study for the creation of new work.
Parts of the workshop will take place outdoors, placing actions far away from the audience. Scenes will be embedded in living landscapes, exploring tension with the incidental events around. Participants will play with different modes of delivering text and sound and the two sessions will include a mixture of discussion, reading, devising tasks and trials.
Juan is a director, dramaturg, performer and designer based between London and Madrid. He originally trained as an architect before attending the Jacques Lecoq School in Paris and the London International School of Performing Arts (LISPA). His work deftly combines abstraction with complex narrative to create poetic, comic and politically charged work. Specialising in physical theatre, improvisation, devised works and adaptations, his work responds with sensitivity and risk-taking irreverence with the site, space and audience. Over the last 20 years he has been working with companies from across Europe, including Teatro Español, Matadero and Teatro de la Abadía in Madrid, MAC Birmingham, BAC, Greenwich Dance and Jerwood Space in London.
OUR NEW MASTERCLASSES PROGRAMME
Juan’s masterclass is part of an expanding programme at Tobacco Factory Theatres.
Our theatre owes so much to freelance and independent artists, who have created almost everything we’ve presented over the last 20 years. These exceptionally talented and professional colleagues have been confronted with huge challenges through Covid-19, whilst on the whole receiving far less support than venues.
Last year we partnered with The Cube Microplex to distribute hardship grants to local artists with acute financial difficulties, funded by The Gane Trust.
This year, whilst we continue to work on our long-term survival, we aim to support local artists in new and varied ways.
The first initiative is our Masterclasses Programme, designed for South West-based professional artists, and led by a range of inspiring practitioners.
- RUNNING TIMETwo 3 hour sessions
- AGE RECOMMENDATION18+
- VENUESpielman Theatre
Fri 25 & Sat 26 June 2pm – 5pm both days
Please note that participants are invited to attend the workshop as two 3-hour sessions on consecutive days.
Pay What You Choose – £5, £15 or £30. We understand that everyone is experiencing different financial circumstances. Whatever you feel able to spend, session leaders will be fully paid for their work.
Max 14 participants
Masterclasses are designed for South-West based professional artists.
Masterclasses are first available to book for our Artist Members, who receive a priority booking period of 2 days from Tue 01 June.
It is free to become an Artist Member, and you can do so by emailing an introduction of yourself, where you live and your practice to artists@tobaccofactorytheatres.com
If you require captioning or BSL interpretation of the sessions, or have any other access needs, please let us know.
